More than 20 property owners and residents who lost their homes in wildfires have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, alleging that officials failed to provide adequate water for firefighting efforts.
The lawsuit, filed on January 21, accuses the city government and its water department of neglecting to maintain a sufficient water supply, which plaintiffs claim directly contributed to the destruction of their properties.
Key Allegations
The complaint highlights the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which serves as a critical water source for fighting fires in the Pacific Palisades area. The reservoir was drained and taken offline in February 2024 for repairs.
Fire hydrants in the affected neighborhoods rely on three auxiliary tanks, each with a capacity of 3,700 cubic meters. These tanks were depleted within 12 hours during the fires. With the reservoir out of service, firefighters were left to rely on the tanks, which were not designed to handle large-scale wildfires.
The plaintiffs argue that the Palisades Fire was an "inevitable consequence" of the city’s mismanagement of the water system. "The water supply system failed catastrophically. This was a significant factor in the severe damages suffered by the plaintiffs," the lawsuit states.
Devastating Wildfires
The wildfires, which began on January 7 in areas including Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst, killed 28 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. The fires rank among the most destructive in California’s history.
The incident has raised serious questions about Los Angeles’ preparedness for wildfire emergencies.
Maintenance Issues with Santa Ynez Reservoir
The Santa Ynez Reservoir, with a capacity of 443,000 cubic meters, is managed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The Los Angeles Times reports that the reservoir was drained in February 2024 to repair its floating cover, which was installed in 2011 and has a 20-year lifespan under federal water quality regulations.
The cover had reportedly developed tears, risking contamination from debris, bird droppings, and other pollutants. LADWP began draining the reservoir in February 2024 and opened the project for bids in April. The repair contract was awarded to Layfield, a company based in Lakeside, in November.
The current status of the repairs is unclear. Records show that Layfield also handled repairs on the Santa Ynez cover in 2022.
(Sources: AP, Los Angeles Times)
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